The Washington critic., 1887-12-31
MENDING BROKEN HEADS
The Work Performed at the Emer.
gency Hospital,
DOCTORSWORKING FOR CHARITY
a Description OF one of Washing
toms Leading institutions.

streets orc almost deserted, the only oc- |
cupants being an occasional policeman
md q lonesome "night-linorn hNcSmar.
The wind whistles around ,ho corner of
Twelfth and the Avcnuo, rreak.rg the
signs, Tapping the canvas awnings, and
driving the policeman into u doorway TO
act thh dust ont of his eyes. II is cold,
bitter cold. Up IN the Emergency Hos
pitsl on Twelfth, near y, all is silent.
a sol:iary gas-iet burns in the hallway.
Up stairs, in the third story, the resi-
dent physician and his assistant are
sound asleep. They have worked hard
all day. attending 10 the wants OF the
INDECENT sick. Just before O'Clock
they went down to the First Precinct
Station house to treat fellow troubled
with those of which ST. Patrick is said
TO have rid Ireland
Now, they are taking the rest so well
earned. Suddenly, vehicle turns the
corner of + street and comes tearing
down the cobble-stone street. IL pulls
UP short in front of the hospital. 1t is
the patrol wagon. A blue-coated officer
Jumps out, runs up the steps and pulls
the door-bell. 1t is u loud-mouthcd bell
and peals vigorously out on the frosty
air and reverberatcs through the cold
halls of the hospital. The peal of the
bell is answered by groan from the
wagon. There is something in the
wagon covered over with u white sheet.
Another groan, q movement OF the sheet,
and white hand is reached out to the
policeman sitting near.
"There, there, old fellow BE quiet;
you are all right! !" says the officer
kindly.
A window is opened in the third
story and face peers out Emergency
case; bad one, too. Hurry up " sings
out the officer.
The window closes with bang, n
scuttling of feet and moving around,
and the door is opened by DIR. McKone.
The two officers, assisted by DIR. Nc
Kone and DR.. Gill, tenderly lift the
stretcher bearing the wounded man and
carry him into the back room on the
first floor. whats the matter?" asks
the doctor.
"Fight Bloody alley. Razor" an
swers the officer, sententiously. The
sheet is removed, the mans clothes
taken off. "Umph Pretty bad NUT
ters the doctor, gazing at the gaping
wounds from which the blood is drip
DlllE. Dut IlO tlllic lE iOcb III toiIlItIltS.
The wounds are spongcd in warm
water, and with deft and gentle touches
the cuts are sewn up and bandaged.
After awhile the Job is finished, the
man rests easy; one of the doctors re-
turns to his bed, the other sits up. The
patrol wagon rumbles OFF down the
street, the wind whistles blcakly
around the house and again the street
is silent and deserted.
One o'clock in the afternoon. Be-
hind table in the front room sits the
doctor. A big book open before him and
box full of little cards nearby, Seated
around the room is n motley assemblaGe
Of people, all ages and colors, and in all
degrees of destitution. In response to
a nod from the doctor big colored man
slouches up to the desk.
whats your name"
"Julius Noland."
whats your age?'
He looks confused, fumblos his hat,
scratches his his head, and finally,
"Deed dom know, bossn'
'How old were you time of the war.
His face brightens. Now he has II
tangible period to date from, 81 was ies'
twenty year old"
QUESTIONING THE APPLICANTS.
His birthplace and present residence
are noted in the book, .and then he is
requested to describe his ailmcnt. His
case is diagnosed, he is given card
directing him to the physician treating
that particular disease, and he is shown
upstairs to the operating room. The
next is sprightly young woman, prob
ably servant girl. She looks we'll, but
on turning down her collar an ugly
tumor is seen. She is sent up to DIR.
Thompson. Then steps up Il frail-look-
ing woman with careworn face. A
whispered consultation with the doctor
discloses the symptoms of her ailmcnt
and as it is not necessary for her TO sec
the other doctor, she is given an order
for bottle of medicine. Others file
up, one by one, decrepit old men, young
girls, and mothers with babes in theil
arms. They are all dispatched TO the
various physicians in the house for ex
animation and treatment
Up stairs is the surgery room. Her,
sits u kindly-faced man-Dr. J. Fort
Thompson-with his two assistants
Drs. Cults and Frederick. A half dosei
young medical students look Interested,
on while he performs an operation oi
the young woman with the tumor
Outside, in the hall, other patients ar
awaiting their turn, not any reassurc'
by an occasional groan proceeding from
the room. Across the hail. in another
room, DR.. Il. Carroll Morgan, with prs
Taylor Fernald and Chumberin, is ut
tending to diseases Of the throat an,
chest. On Tuesday and Friday disease
of the eye and ear, by DR.. Burnett, an,
general diseases, by DR.. Lee, will b
frea.td. Dr. Magruder attends to dis
eases of children, and Dr. Johnstol
diseases of women on Mondays am
Thursdays.
WORKING FOR cHABITY's sAKE.
These eminent physicians devote on
hour of their time twice week to tn
hospital "for sweet charity's sake" Tn
Emergency Hospital and Central Dis
pcnsary is an institution for the benef
of the INDECENT nd TO treat cases q
accidents, g D, ], uirine immediate al
tentior. N,ochal y ode for any SCI
vice, and nedicif iehed gratis I
those wh3 canno) The hospita
Is supported bI appropriation
from tile Distri \ u, and and by pr
vate sabscriptio isno charitabl
institution in t hich does NOR
good TO the poor, o. ) 0. reater benC
ft.
During the pAsS year i0,6a3 person
have been treated and prescribed foi
Or emergency cases, those requiring i'm
mediate attention, there have been 0SC
and 2SS surgical opera lions performed